Post by El Morto La Hoja! on Jun 8, 2009 17:44:59 GMT -1
Championship pair West Brom and Middlesbrough will reportedly slug it out this summer in a bid to sign Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray, widely believed to be Celtic's number one choice to replace Gordon Strachan at Parkhead, is trying to ignore all the speculation surrounding his Hawthorns future by making plans for next season.
Midfield appears to be the main area set for a facelift, with James Morrison and Chris Brunt likely to be sold in this summer's transfer window.
Mowbray has already been heavily linked with moves for Rangers star Barry Ferguson and Bristol City's Marvin Elliott - and now Sunday reports suggest he is also tracking Potters flop Tonge.
The 26-year-old moved to the Britannia Stadium for £2.5million from Sheffield United last summer, but has failed to hold down a first-team place under Tony Pulis, with Salif Diao, Glenn Whelan and Rory Delap ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order.
Tonge has expressed a wish to fight for his Potters future, but a bid of £2million could be enough to tempt Pulis into selling, and Albion would face a fight for the player's signature from Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who needs to bolster his midfield options following Stewart Downing's injury blow.
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Still worth £2 million
